CERTIFIED: Adapting to change

Written on
Apr 13, 2018

Certified follows a group of aspiring CPAs on their journey to prepare for and take the CPA exam. This is part one of Kimberly Price’s story, which began in August 2016. Read part one and part two of her journey to the CPA exam.

Pulling an all-nighter to prepare for one test is entirely different than studying almost every day for months at a time, which is what the CPA exam requires of its candidates. Few people understand what it takes to pass the exam, except for those who have been through it themselves. Kimberly Price has found that trying to justify her study schedule to others can be difficult at times.

“There are times when I try to explain, but you can tell when people don’t care much about it. It’s not something they would do,” she said. “I wish everyone would understand how difficult it is.”

Her focus has now turned to studying for the Business Environmental Concepts (BEC) section, which she’ll take in November.

She said through this process she’s learned new ways she can study and process information, whereas before she considered herself strictly an auditory and reading learner. She’s started experimenting with different study methods and has been pleased with the results.

“I didn’t quite give myself enough credit with how versatile you can be with learning,” she said.

Price and her husband made the move into their new apartment, only a few blocks away from where she works at Clark Schaefer Hackett in Columbus. Despite having the sale of their previous home behind them, she said the amount of unpacking they need to do is both daunting and distracting.

“It was a little hard at first when we were trying to get everything unpacked,” she said. “I know I have to study but I can’t even focus looking at all these boxes around my home. I need to have things in their place. Otherwise, all I focus on is the one thing that’s out of place.”

Price said her husband has been a constant supporter through the hectic process of selling their home, moving into a new apartment and the disappointing results of the audit section. Although there might be many people who don’t understand the commitment the CPA exam requires, her husband isn’t one of them.